Former Question Time host Peter Sissons launched a scathing attack on the BBC in a resurfaced interview from 2009, describing the corporation as a 'multimedia news factory' and accusing management of having 'communication problems.' Sissons, who hosted the political programme from 1989 to 1993 and anchored the BBC Nine O'Clock News and Ten O'Clock News until 2003, made the remarks shortly after his retirement from the broadcaster in 2009.
Sissons Criticises BBC's Shift to Multimedia
Speaking at a Media Society Dinner in London, Sissons urged BBC bosses to return to 'back to basics' journalism, free from excessive opinion and analysis by 'self-important correspondents.' He stated: 'Indeed, you can count the role models in the BBC newsroom on the fingers of one hand. Bosses were remote and overpaid. They have put public service secondary to pecuniary ambition.'
The veteran broadcaster also expressed concern for young journalists at the BBC, describing them as 'poor kids working gruelling shifts' who 'lacked role models.' His comments reflected growing unease about the direction of news at the corporation after 20 years of service.
Previous Ageism Accusations
This was not the first time Sissons had spoken out against the BBC. In 2003, after moving to BBC News 24, he accused the corporation of ageism, saying: 'Ageism is still the BBC's blind spot. Yet it is blindingly obvious that maturity goes with grey hairs.' Sissons passed away in 2019 at the age of 77, just 10 years after his retirement.
Sir Paul McCartney Pays Tribute
Following his death, former school friend Sir Paul McCartney paid tribute to Sissons, calling him 'a talented news presenter with a great sense of humour.' The former Beatle wrote on his website: 'Dear Peter, my old schoolmate from the Liverpool Institute (now LIPA) has passed away. It's so sad to hear the news. We were in the same year and stayed in touch as time went by, and we both followed our separate careers. He was a talented news presenter with a great sense of humour. I will miss him, but I will always have fond memories of the time we spent together. My sympathies go out to his family, and I send all my love to them all.'
